Minister Shane Jones discussed special laws for aquaculture

At the headquarters of the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI), a closed-door meeting was held between Senior Minister Shane Jones and the heads of New Zealand's largest aquaculture companies, including Sealord, New Zealand King Salmon, and Akaroa. The participants discussed the development of dedicated legislation for the sector, which is intended to serve as the foundation for its growth and to increase investor confidence.

MPI representatives announced an ambitious forecast: the country's salmon production could increase 30-fold to reach nearly half a million tonnes per year (compared to the current approximately 15,000 tonnes). According to Shane Jones, the sector needs a "one-stop shop" law, especially against the backdrop of growing anxiety due to restrictions on land-based protein production, such as beef. The minister named the creation of a regime for offshore ocean farming, which currently practically does not exist, as a top priority.

Industry executives greeted the forecasts with optimism, but remain cautious. Akaroa King Salmon CEO Stuart Hawthorne emphasized the importance of maintaining the high quality of New Zealand salmon and public trust. In his view, the products should belong to the premium price segment. In 2025, the industry already faced public scrutiny and complaints from the Safe group due to increased summer fish mortality. Shane Jones noted that mass production analogous to Vietnamese tilapia would not be tolerated by the public.

New Zealand King Salmon CEO Carl Carrington inquired whether achieving the target of 450,000 tonnes per year would include the cultivation of other salmon species (currently only chinook salmon is farmed in the country). MPI head Ray Smith replied that this is possible, but would require centralized and coordinated decision-making, as different agencies, in particular the Department of Conservation (DoC), currently effectively hinder growth.

Sealord CEO Doug Paulin pointed to the lack of investment certainty for implementing projects of this scale, which require billions in investments. According to him, broad political support for legislative decisions without sudden changes is critically important to attract capital and prevent investors from moving to other parts of the world.